If you’re like many Americans, you have a few bills that you’d like to pay down, but find handling them a challenge. A 2025 Wells Fargo Money Study found that 50% of Americans are uncomfortable with their current levels of debt.
If you’re ready to take charge of your finances, debt payoff tools can be the perfect addition to your mobile device or computer. These software applications are easy to set up and are usually low-cost or free.
So, which debt payoff app is right for you? Consider the one that aligns with your overall financial goals.
Below are six excellent debt payoff apps on the market today. While all will help you escape pressing obligations, they are also equipped with special benefits that may make them perfect for your broader needs.
1. Assume Financial Control: ‘You Need a Budget’
By downloading the You Need a Budget (YNAB) app, you can make sure every dollar you spend is accounted for. When you reduce wasteful spending in your everyday life, it’s easy to allocate the maximum amount of available cash to your creditors.
The app is ideal for users who are trying to be more intentional with their money, according to Peter Earle, director of economics and economic freedom at the American Institute for Economic Research in New York City.
“Rather than forecasting or setting arbitrary spending caps, YNAB prompts the user to give each dollar a specific job, whether it’s paying down high-interest credit card balances, saving, or staying current on bills,” Earle said in an email. “It essentially taps into behavioral economics, adjusting allocations in real time and showing the trade-offs between consumption and saving.”
YNAB is a plus for those trying to preserve financial flexibility and build budgetary discipline. You can test it out for free with a 34-day trial, followed by an annual plan that costs $9.08 a month.
[Read: How to Make a Budget — and Stick to It.]
2. Accumulate Assets: PocketGuard
If you want to pay down debt while building up assets, PocketGuard may be the app for you. Not only does this app enable you to develop a debt repayment strategy, it keeps you informed about your actual net worth.
PocketGuard enables you to synchronize all your deposit and investment accounts, offering a comprehensive view of your asset value. You can also track real estate property values and include them in your overall net worth financial picture.
The basic version is free, but for added features such as debt repayment planning and rollover budgeting, you can upgrade to PocketGuard Plus, available for $12.99 per month or $74.99 annually.
As you watch your credit card and loan balances decline and the value of your assets rise, your excitement will build. You will have immediate access to your net worth on any device.
[Read: How to Calculate Your Net Worth.]
3. Get a High Credit Score: Credit Karma
Missing payments and high credit utilization can take a serious toll on your credit scores. To improve these numbers, consider using the free Credit Karma app.
One feature, a debt repayment calculator, allows you to input your current debt balance, the account’s interest rate and your desired monthly payment or payoff timeline. The app will then display an estimation of your repayment period and the total cost. Additionally, you can explore different scenarios by adjusting the inputs.
“It helps explain the underlying factors driving changes in personal creditworthiness,” Earle said. “By doing that, users can come to understand how decisions such as increasing credit utilization or opening new accounts impact their credit score.”
Credit Karma provides credit scores and reports that come directly from TransUnion and Equifax. The app also offers personalized recommendations, such as refinancing to balance transfers, so you can optimize borrowing costs.
4. Maximize Artificial Intelligence: BudgetGPT
Why not put the best emerging technology to achieve your debt payoff goals? The free app BudgetGPT does just that, says Taylor Kovar, a certified financial planner and BudgetGPT co-founder based in Houston.
“It lets you actually talk to your budget,” Kovar says. “You can ask questions like ‘How much can I spend on groceries this week?’ or ‘Can I afford to take a weekend trip?’ It gives real-time answers based on your own numbers. That kind of back-and-forth can really help families build momentum and stay consistent.”
When you receive responses, you’ll know exactly how much you can apply to your debt, eliminating worries about overpayment or underpayment. And because you’re having a real-time conversation with the app, the guidance feels personal.
“As a CFP, I’ve seen firsthand how the right software can completely change a family’s financial future,” Kovar says. “When everything’s in one place, it only takes a minute to check how you’re doing. It removes a lot of stress.”
5. Keep Your Options Open: Undebt.it
Plenty of debt repayment apps help you understand how much money you need to clear your financial obligations, but if you’re looking for one with a wide variety of plans, Undebt.it might be helpful.
The free version works well, but an advanced program with features such as advanced tracking and savings challenges is available for $12 a year.
You can choose from several debt plans tailored to your specific needs and preferences. The most popular is the debt snowball plan, which organizes your accounts so you pay off the smallest balance first before moving on to the next.
[READ: How to Get a Fresh Start This Winter With the Debt Snowball Method]
However, it’s wise to experiment a bit to see which plan makes the most sense for you. For example, the debt avalanche prioritizes accounts by interest rate and minimizes fees, while the debt snowball focuses on the debt-to-interest ratio.
The highest credit utilization plan helps you broaden the distance between your debt and your credit limits. There is also a custom feature to allow you to design your own strategy.
6. Become and Remain Organized: Debt Payoff Planner
Confronting all of your obligations can be a confusing and emotional experience; the Debt Payoff Planner app can be a good place to start. This tool enables you to organize and visualize all of your debts from credit card balances and loans to taxes and medical bills.
After inputting all of your accounts, the app will suggest simple steps to optimize your repayment goal.
To stay organized, the app indicates when each payment is due, along with the corresponding amount to be paid. Your status and progress, along with charts and graphs, are also displayed. For extra motivation, you can receive notifications after you reach repayment milestones.
The basic plan is free, but if your situation is more complex, you may want to pay for the premium plan at $2 a month.
Don’t Fear Apps
If you’re hesitant to use technology to advance your financial goals, don’t be, Kovar says. They are designed to alleviate anxiety which often arises from debt management.
“Most people don’t realize how much of their stress comes from simply not knowing where their money is going,” Kovar says.
“These apps give you a clear picture of what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what needs to change. Most families don’t need a perfect budget but they do need something that works and doesn’t fall apart when life gets busy.” he adds.
More from U.S. News
These Are the 5 Best Free Budgeting Apps to Use
5 Best Budget Apps for Couples in 2025
6 Best Debt Payoff Apps According to Your Financial Goals originally appeared on usnews.com